Olympic Park Visits

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After the meal at One Thousand and One Nights, Ryan easily convinced me that I needed to visit Olympic Park at night for the cool light displays on the structures. It took about 30-40 minutes to reach it by subway, but the Park was still open, though none of the stadiums were. I'd have to come back later to see them during the day. It had just finished raining and the wet ground created beautiful reflections of the lit structures, especially the Water Cube.

A few minutes after we passed the Olympic Tower, it started raining...and then pouring. Neither of us had an umbrella, though I at least had a bag to put my camera in if needed to protect it. It was cold, but I enjoyed listening to the sounds of the showers and seeing the Bird Cage and Water Cube through the precipitation. It also destroyed any hesitation I had about playing in the Fountain Show outside the Water Cube. The rain also helped clear out several people from the park, allowing me to get a more isolated experience! More so than Tienanmen Square, I noticed several locals and couples on dates visiting the Park, not just tourists. The Olympic Park at night is another must-see on my list!

During the day, Olympic Park is much more populated and hosts huge tourist groups. Make time for long waits for tickets into the Bird Cage and Water Cube, I had sufficient time myself (making it in the Water Cube right before it closed around 4pm), but it can get seriously busy during some hours. Also, the tickets are pricey, but worth it if you love watching the Olympics! Since a majority of the group had seen Olympic Park during day already or were too tired after Houhai Lake (or Sam after Prince Gong's Mansion), I traveled comfortably as a loner again which, as always, made logistics easier.

I visited the Bird Cage first, walked around the exterior a bit to view if the structure was anything special or simple aesthetic architecture (it was the latter), and then headed inside right before a large tourist group.......blah blah blah blah........................????????????????????????????????????????

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Photos

The Beautified Metro Station to the Beijing Olympic Stadium
The trains were distinctly nicer

First View of the Beijing Olympic Park
...hoping it just finished raining

The Water Cube - The Olympic Swimming Pool
At Beijing Olympic Park

The Water Cube - Beijing's Olympic Swimming Pool
Right before it started raining again

The Bird Cage at Night - Beijing's Olympic Track Stadium
The rain created a beautiful reflection

The Water Cube
I love the reflection glimmering softly against the wet ground - I guess the rain was good for a few pictures!

Fountain Show in front of the Water Cube
...while it's pouring outside.

The Water Cube Fountain Show in the Rain
Well I guess we were already wet so why not, haha

Initial View of the Olympic Track!
Wait, where's all the real track?

Me inside the Bird Cage, the Olympic Track in Beijing
I scoped the track for a potential running path through the crowd and then ran an all-out 400m sprint around the track while video taping with all that stuff! Yea, I'm pretty amazing, haha

The Only Portion of the Real Track you Could See
The rest was covered with pads from a concert a few nights before

Me at the Water Cube
Convinced a Little who laughed at me when I tripped on a stair to take a picture of me, just so I could post it and make Ferg and Jason jealous that I was in the same pool that hosted that historic, close 200m relay race...or was it the 400m? Whatever it was awesome

Most Intriguing Olympic Park Statues
Saw so many kids having fun climbing and posing with all the statues!

Olympic Park Statues
In honor of all the torch bearers and recognizing female athletes for their previous (and in some areas still continued) struggle for equal rights

Olympic Park Statues
Artistic sculptures representing certain values idealized through the olympics...these were compassion I think?

Olympic Park Statues
Each Commemorating Either a Sport or Virtue - I think this one was something along the lines of generosity, support, or something

Olympic Park Gardens
Running down those would be a rush!